Knoxville, TN – The Visit Knoxville Sports Commission is happy to be working with Grind for Life on their second series in Knoxville. This is a street and bowl Skateboard event, which raises money for cancer patients. Some of the best amateur and sponsored skaters from the Southeast will compete in the event.  Anyone is invited to attend, and the event itself is open to all ages and skill levels of skaters. The event is free.

“Grind for Life is a unique opportunity to expose some of the best amateur skateboard athletes in the Southeast to our city and our action sports assets,” says Series Partner, Paul Sponcia. “It’s also awesome to be able to combine a great cause, raising money to fight cancer, with Outdoor Knoxville – getting people outdoors enjoying the various assets in our community. We are super stoked to have GFL in town, and to partner with them and The Boardr in Tampa to put on a great contest.”

The mission of the Grind For Life organization is to provide financial assistance to cancer patients and their families when traveling long distances to doctors and hospitals. In addition, we educate and inspire these patients and families concerning cancer survival and recovery with Mike Rogers Story a Two Time Sarcoma Survivor. Those who qualify may request assistance for travel and lodging expenses, meals, and personal needs

Grind For Life, Inc was founded in 2003, by life-long skateboarder Mike Rogers, after his second battle with sarcoma cancer. Mike's tumor was located behind his right eye and nasal cavity. He endured a 17 hour surgery a cranial-facial resection with a brain-lift, removal of his eye, cheekbone, and half of the roof of his mouth and some of his teeth. He beat cancer once as a pre-teen, and again 25 years later. Mike beat the odds and is a competitive skateboarder again.

Some of the best amateur and sponsored skaters from the SE will attend the event. Last year we had local and regional attendees from NC, SC, VA, WV, KY, OH, AL, FL and GA as well as one participant from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

This is our second year for Knoxville hosting the kickoff for the fall series for Grind for Life in Knoxville. It is the third year of running the Grind for Life Series in the southeast. This series leads to the Annual Awards at The Boardr HQ in Tampa with winners of the Sponsored Street Division at each stop getting a spot in The Boardr Am, a top international amateur skateboarding series with the Finals at X Games in Austin.

www.knxsports.org